Sign device or apparatus.



w. H. TUCKER.

SIGN DEVlCE 0R APPARATUS. 7 APPLICATION men FEB. 12. 1911.

"1,246,500. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETSS'HEE T 2.-

Wilson Haic'h maker UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILSON HATCH TUCKER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. SPANJER, 0F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

SIGN DEV ICE 0R APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILsON HATCH TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Montclai-r, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements 1n Sign Devices or Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, such as w ll enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to signs and particularly to illuminated signs, and the object thereof is to provide an improved apparatus of this class with a new means or method of illumination; and a further object is to provide an improved apparatus of the class described with means whereby diflerent sign elements may be connected with a sign casing to form an interchangeable sign. p

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of whiclrthe accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure l is a front view of a sign made according to my invention;

Fig. 2 a transverse section on the llne 2fl. of Fig. l and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 a perspective view of oneof a number of sign elements which I employ;

Fig. 3 a detail sectional view of the front portion of a sign element and showing a modification;

Fig. l a view similar to Fig. l but showing an interchangeable sign or a sign adapted to receive different sign elements,

Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the sign shown in Fig. l and showing the electric circuit, said section being on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 a partial section on the line 6-6 of Fig. and on an enlarged scale; and,

Fig. 7 a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of connecting sign elements of different characters to a square unit lIlVOlV- ing six points.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown at a a sign casing preferably composed of sheet metal, said casing consisting of a back a and a supplemental back a forming a chamber a therebetween The front of the casing is provided with inwardly directed top and bottom and side Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 13 1917 Application filed February 12, 1917. Serial N 0. 148,010. r e

beveled portions a which are V-shaped in formin cross section, as clearly shown in 2, said inwardly directed beveled portlons a forming between the same and the supplemental back wall a a deep space or compartment a, all the Walls'of which, in cluding the inner beveledwall a of themwardly directed beveled portion a are painted or otherwise colored with white or light material. Connected with the supplemental back a at predetermined points are threaded mem bers Z) with which are connected correspond ingly threaded tubes 6 which project for wardly, and mounted on the front end thereof are electric light bulbs and sockets b of the usual or any preferred construction. The supplemental back wall a is cut out at intervals around each of the threaded members Z), as indicated at a in Fig. 2, to form means for supporting sign elements a which consist, in the construction shown, of different letters of the alphabet, but which may consist of numerals, or any other characters used in making signs. v i

The letters shown on said Sign are C A F E, and the letter E is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and in cross section in Fig. 2, and is' composed of a sheet metal strip 0 bent to the desired form, and the front edges there of are bent to form flanges 0 as indicated in Fig. 2, and a blank 0, of the form of the letter, is placed within the parts 0 and againstthe flanges cfiand secured thereto in any desired manner, the blank forming the face of the letter while the part 0 forms the sides of the parts of the letter, as will be readily understood. Each of the other letters employed are similarly formed and con nected therewith at predetermined points are a plurality of inwardly directed fingers at having parts (Z bent at right angles thereto, which are adapted to be passed through the cut out portions a of'the supplemental back a as clearly shown in Fig. 2, which construction forms means for supporting the sign elements or letters 0. The supple-mental back a at the points of connection therewith of the fingers (Z may be reinforced by sleeves 6 connected therewith as shown in Fig. 2, if desired. As indicated in Fig. l, in dotted lines, each of the letters GA F E is'provided with lamps and sockets b and it will be noted that the lamp and socket b of the letter A is at an angle to that of the other lamps and sockets, the tube 6 being adapted' to be turned in its support to place the lamp and socket at different angles, when desired. The usual circuit wires 5* are connected with the lamps and sockets b and pass out through the casing as indicated at b to any sort of electrical supply, such wires being mounted in the chamber; of between the-back wall a and supplemental back wall a Itwill-be noted that a lamp andsoc-ket 6 in the construction shown in Figs. land 2, is-mounted withinapart-of each of the lettersshownand, in practice, the inner walls of the-letters are painted white to corre spend with the coloringof the walls of the compartment a, and the light in said lettors reflects onto thejsupplemental back wall a? and illuminates the entire compartment (4. The face of the letters are preferably provided with a dark coloring and this wayasign with dark sign elements and a white or illuminated back is produced,,the face of the sign elements or letters 0 is in front of the inner. beveled faces a of the inwardly directed beveled portions a and said beveled faces reflect the light inwardly and prevent anylight from being cast upon the face of the sign elements thereby insuring the desired result. I

In Fig. 3 of the drawing,.l have shown a modification which consists in bending the flanges :0 of the front edge portion of the parts =0 of the sign element inwardly to form a raised beveled edge 0 to said sign element which may be colored dilfe-rently than that of the face 0 of said element, which, in the clay-time, would give better finish to the letter as will be readily under-- stood.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, 1 have shown a modification which consists in providing the supplemental back a of the casing a with :a plurality of cut-out portions a similar to the cut-out portions a in the construct-ion shown in Fig. 2, said cut-out portions being arranged in a plurality of equally spaced horizontal lines f, f f and f, and spaced in said lines to orm on said supplemental back wall a plurality of square units designated by .dots, such 'as that shown in Fig. 7. The top and bottom portions; of said unit are designated by the lines f and f and spaced centrally between the corner portions of said unit in the top and bottom lines f and f are other points which form in any units selected on said supplemental back, means for attaching other sign elements that cannot be attached to the corner points of the unit, as hereinafter set out. and for descriptive purposes the points of the inn-it shown in-Fig. 7 are lettered g, 9 9 -g. g and g9.

The supplemental back a in the constructionishown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, .is providedwith a plurality of spaced sockets it, one of which is shown in cross section in Fig. 6, and the tron-tor openend of these sockets areeach provided with closure plates 72. pivoted to the supplemental back at its, whereby said sockets may be normally closed as indicated in Fig. 4, and opened as indicated in Fig. 6 whenever desired to permit the connection therewith of electric lamp bulbs h as indicated in Fig. 6.

The supplemental back a? and the walls of the compartment a will be-colored in the samemanner as that of the construction shown in Figsl and 2, as well as the plates h gfor inclosing the sockets h which will rendersaid plat-es it? invisible, except upon close examination The arrangement of 'the'sockets h on the supplemental back a is such that, at least, one of said sockets .will appear in any one square unit that may be selected, and such socket will be so placed as to bring the electrio lightbulb h* connected therewithin line with the body of a sign element, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawing, in which figure it willalsobe noted that sign elements of variou-s :sizesmay be connected with the supplemental back, or sign elements of two or more d-ifleren.t sizes may be connected with a single sign casing due to the arrangement of the -;cu-t-.out portions a and the sockets h on the supplemental back, the number of the cut-out portions (L8 being iclearly illustrated in Fig. 7

The usual circuit wires z" :and 2' forming an electrical supply of any kind or class are passedinto the chamber a of the leasing and are connected with the sockets h, as indie cated in Fig. 15 of the drawing, and in such manner :thatan: electric l ght bulb connected with any one of the sockets will be illuminated when the circuit in the wires 2' and i iscompleted through a switch or in any other way. 7

It will be understood that each of the sign elements consisting of letters of the alphabet, numerals "or the like, is provided with twoor morelfingersid similar to those shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, whereby said sign elements may be 'detaohably connected with the supplemental. back a and when the back a is provided with a plurality of cut out portions a as hereinbefore set out, to produce a plurality of square units, as shown i-n'Fi g. .7, such letters of the alphabet as E, H, N, etc., ai:e suspended .or detachabl-y connected with the cut-out portions of a unit designated by the characters g, g, g a-nd g' in said figure, while such letters as F and :P will be connected with the points g, g zandg such letters as L with the points g, g and 9, and T, V, .Y, etc, with the .points g, and-g,-.and such letters as 1 and J with the'pointsg aud o, or any two other points in a vertical plane.

The above is merely described to illustrate that any letter of the alphabet as well as numerals may be connected with any square unit selected, and it will also be understood that when larger sign elements such as that shown at j in Fig. 1 are employed, the square unit of such elements would include a plurality of cut-out portions a or points between the corner cut-out portions or points of the unit as is illustrated in Fig. l, and it will also be noted that a pluralty of sockets will come inline with the body of different sign elements, whereby a suflicient number of electric light bulbs may be employed in connection with large sign elements to properly illuminate the back a or the compartment a of the sign casing, the unit shown in Fig. 7 being the simplest form, or involving the smallest unit that can be selected from the supplemental back a as shown in Fig. 4.

Although I have shown and described av specific method of constructing the sign elements used herein, or one of them, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular method of making these sign elements, letters or numerals, it being understood that said sign elements are preferably composed of sheet material and consist of a casing open at the back, but my invention is not necessarily limited to forming said sign elements of casings open at the back, the principal features of my invention residing in the provision of a sign casing, the front of which is open and the interior thereof provided with a refracting or reflecting surface, said casing being also provided with darksign forming elements, consisting of letters, numerals or the like, and means for illuminating the interior of said casing without illuminating the front faces of said sign elements, it being understood that it is not, or may not be necessary to provide illuminating devices back of each sign element and especially when small sign elements are employed, or when said sign elements are bunched in forming words or signs, and various changes in and modifications of the construction of, and arrangement of, the various parts of my improved sign apparatus may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a box-shaped casing open at the front and the top, bottom and side walls of which are provided with inwardly directed beveled portions, the inner walls of which with the back of the casing form a compartment, hollow sign elements detachably mounted in said casing and open at the back, said sign portions the inner walls of which with the back of the casing form a compartment, a supplemental back wall mounted forwardly of the back of the casing to form a supplemental compartment therebetween, forwardly directed tubes rotatably mounted in the supplemental back wall of the casing, means for connecting electric illuminating devices with the ends of said tubes, the circuit wires of said illuminating devices'being adapted to pass through said tubes and through the supplemental compartment of the casing, and hollow sign elements mounted in said casing and the faces of which project beyond the inner walls of said beveled portions, said illuminating devices being mounted rearwardly of and within said hollow sign elements.

3. In an illuminated sign of the class described, a box or casing open at the front and the back wall of which is divided into a plurality of systematically arranged units each comprising a plurality of attaching means adapted to be engaged by attaching' devices connected with sign elements and each of said units being also provided with means for mounting one or more illuminating devices in connection therewith.

at. In an illuminated sign of the class described, a box or casing open at the front and the back wall of which is divided into a plurality of systematically arranged units each comprising a plurality of attaching means, and each of'said units being also provided with means for mounting one or more illuminating devices in connection therewith, and hollow sign elements open at the back and provided with attaching devices adapted to engage the attaching means of said units.

5. In an illuminating sign of the class described, a box or casing open at the front and the back wall of which is divided into a plurality of systematically arranged units of varying sizes each comprising a plurality of attaching means, and each of said units being provided with one or more electriclight sockets normally closed by movable plates, and means whereby hollow sign elements of varying sizes may be connected with said attaching means of said units whereby words, names, designs and characters of varying sizes may be formed in said casin 6. In an illuminated sign of the class de scribed, a box or casing open at the front and the back wall of which is divided into a plurality of systematically arranged units each comprising a plurality of apertures, each of said units being provided with an electric-light socket normally closed by a movable plate, hollow sign elements open at the back and provided With backwardly directed members adapted to engage a predetermined number ef the apertures in said units, and means for connecting electriclight bulbs with the sockets of the units with Copies of this patent may be ebtained for leeee o which said sign elements are connected whereby Words, names, designs and characters having illuminated backs may be produced in said casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name in presence of the subscribing Witnesses this 10th day 01" February, 1917.

WILSON HATCH TUCKER.

W n ss s; j a i i MULREANY E- ieeur en five gents e ch y ad re si he". 9 m $i of atent Washington, 3- 0. i 

